Page 127 of Implode

The sound of hinges opening comes from the ceiling panel, and I can see Collins’s hand reach down with a rope for me to grab. Relief floods through my system, letting me know that there is hope. I hold on to that feeling, allowing it to keep me focused on getting to Claire. I mute the call to not give away my rescue effort, and hit the speaker button to go hands-free. I step onto the handrail to hoist myself higher, grabbing the rope and wrapping it around my hand a few times to get leverage. The call disconnects, and I lose verbal proof of Claire’s safety. Scaling the wall with my feet, I climb and get pulled up on top of the roof of the elevator car.

Memories of Claire from the morning flash through my mind. We spent the morning in bed before going to the clinic to do the paternity test. She was so beautiful today wearing a pink-and-red-striped dress. Her new earrings suit her perfectly, and I can’t wait to add to her diamond collection.

“Shit,” I exhale.

“What?” Collins asks, turning toward me.

“Graham designed earrings for both Penny and Claire as a bridal party gift from Angie. My phone is about to die. Can I borrow yours?”

Collins quickly hands over his while we figure out how to get out of this hellhole.

“It’s Hoffman,” Graham answers on the first ring.

“The earrings,” I say with hope.

“What about them?”

“Did you put trackers in them? Claire is wearing hers today.”

“Yes. Shit, yeah. I’ll get the code so you can follow her.”

My hands ball into fists thinking of how I want to squeeze the life out of Dan. He’ll deserve every miserable second of his death too.

“Check the app,” Graham says.

I hang up and get Collins to sign in to the app. I enter in the code to signify to the GPS device to follow that specific tracker.

“I found her,” I exhale. “I think Dan is taking her out the back exit. Probably has a car waiting.” We use the ladder to climb up to the floor above where the faint light is coming through the opened doors.

“Asher is trying to hunt him down. I have my own men on it. He won’t be able to leave with her.”

“He may try to hurt her just to punish me.”

Collins doesn’t comment. He knows that my fear is a real possibility. There’s no telling how deranged Dan is or what he is capable of. All of my employees have been background checked and have no criminal record. However, most lunatics who take a hostage don’t have a colorful history of offenses. Something just makes them snap, and negotiating is pointless.

I lift myself through the opened doors. “You have a gun on you? I have my Glock.”

“Yes, sir. I grabbed the other one out of my lockbox. Here. Take a backup.”

He hands me his pistol without waiting for me to even ask. I tuck it into the waistband of my pants, opposite of my Glock. Even though Collins doesn’t technically work for me, he is basically family. I trust him with Claire’s life and my own. But like most men whose life’s mission is to guard and protect, there is an unspoken code that is understood. Collins knows that I’m determined to get Claire to safety no matter what it takes. I don’t need to tell him I love her. I think he already knows.

I race to the stairwell and burst through the doors. I jump down multiple steps to hit the landing and then do it again and again until I get to the bottom door that leads out into the lobby. Where is everyone? The police and fire department should be here by now.

My phone vibrates, and I answer it immediately. Claire’s quivering voice fills the silence. “Nic.”

“Baby? Hold on, I’m coming to get you.”

“Bitch,” Dan snaps. “I told you just to say hi, not to cry.”

I hear sniffling in the background and the sound of some doors opening. “You are going to get sloppy and make some mistakes,” I warn. “Wouldn’t you rather take me down before you get arrested and endure the rest of your life behind bars?”

“Oh, isn’t that cute? You actually are hopeful. By the way, I tried calling your phone and it died. But lucky you, it looks like Batman found Robin.” He’s referring to Collins and must have some sort of eyes on us. “Too bad both men suck at getting the girl,” Dan snickers.

“Listen here,” I snarl, “if you harm one hair on her body…”

“Aww, but what if she likes it rough?”

Without time to give a verbal reaction, I run toward the back entrance through a series of hallways that are typically blocked off from the majority of the employees. Collins takes up the rear as we speed through the maze of corridors and badge-access-only doors. He has to know I’m gunning for him. He has to know that the only way out of this mess is by death or prison time.

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